Sewing Machine Alert! - Ruby Rocks

First of all hello to all you lovely followers both the ones who have been with me a while and the new ones too! I hope you are all well and enjoying the slightly longer days and promise of spring here in the UK.

I have been wanting to do this post for a while, alas things here have been very busy. 

Anyhow before I get to the point I just have to talk about plus London again. I really enjoyed reading everybody's takes on the day, It truly was a great evening - as my life's a bit up in the air at the moment it was great to just forget it all for the night and meet some truly nice ladies. The 'official' photos are fabulous, the second floor studio did a super job and although I'm no model It was great to have a bit of a play! Would love to don some 50's glamour and have another go! I would love to be sultry and sexy but doubt I could turn my perma-grin into blue steel!

Anyhow on to my post. I bought a Ruby Rocks dress from Evans a while back (don't panic I haven't been cutting up the feather one... that's perfect the way it is!), It's the ditzy print one I love the pattern but alas the cut was all wrong on me, the high neckline does nothing for my assets! and didn't sit right it lost shape a bit  (or maybe I'm just a tart and need a low cut!)

So I decided to get out the sewing machine and some bias binding and do a bit of DIY! As for fashion It might not be quite as edgy (sadly I lost a tiny bit of the shoulder detail) but I'm happy with the result, I think it suits me a little better, or at least I feel more comfortable and a tad less bulky on top!

These photos are not great, I look tired largely because I am at the moment! (although they were taken a couple of weeks apart - so its 'perma' tired)

I guess the last thing is apologies to Ruby, It's not that I don't love you,  it's just high necklines don't love me! I'm usually too lazy to get the sewing machine out but this print made me!

Anyhow I have been wanting to get out there and comment on lots of blogs about plus London and otherwise but haven't quite managed it! I will be out and about commenting away soon, its not that I'm a meanie, just a bit tired at present! 

Hope you are all well! 

Plus London!

Wow! I had such a great time at Plus London last night. First of all many thanks to our lovely organisers: Lauren, Kat, Sophie, Stephanie and Valerie, as well as the sponsors for giving us a sneak peak at some of their beautiful clothes. 

It was great to see so many lovely ladies looking amazing! (I felt so under dressed!) Anyhow without further a do lets push on to the photos:

The best way to kick off any fabulous event, with tea and cakes of course!

I met Amanda in the primrose bakery nestled in between the strand and Covent Garden I had the most lovely delicate green tea and a lemon cupcake...

Then onwards to the Strand Gallery for schmoozing over pretty clothes, including a tiny sneak peak at H&M Inclusive, I'm very interested to see this collection in the shops and hoping patience will be rewarded!

Just a few of my favourites...

  

This Jacket is Torrid (its a size 2, I refer you to my blog title for my measurements for fit comparisons and all) 

It was quite possibly made to go with my outfit last night! I could not be any more in love with this jacket!

This top is also Torrid and is a size 2 also, It's an odd cut, sort of on the bias on a diagonal under the bust line the frills are just super... finally a chiffon that likes me! (look arms out and everything!)

Oh on to Anna Scholtz... and wow! I would never have tried this dress on in a million years - but thanks to Beth and a swap in the changing room (aka ladies loo!) I did! I don't normally go for anything pencilesque due to the tummy but It looks blinding in this photograph! (note to self to be more adventurous)

(I think it was a size 18 or 20, I did have champagne brain by this point!)

I was desperate to try this baby on but these were going back to ASOS so it was strictly try on with your eyes only! alas this snap does not do it justice! ASOS Curve is getting a lot of love from the plus community and it's not hard to see why! (they are stocking as lot of peach and orange tones at the moment which do nothing for me :-( but there are many more colourful gems too :-)

OK now onwards to the the lovely bloggers,  all looking radiant of course! 

I shamelessley redirect you to here for blog links!

I love this photo, so much so that I'm enlarging it and screwing up the layout of my blog! (ha! and the crazy perfectionist in me doesn't even mind!) I think we all look so happy (who wouldn't sporting such amazing clothes!) I loved the grey wrap dress so soooo much (in fact I sneaked off to the pop up studio to get a professional photo done - fingers crossed it looks good!)

By 10 o'clock I didn't want to go home :-( but looking at the vast quantities of empty champers bottles:

I think going home was the best course of action!

My Weekend In Restaurants!

Well this weekend has been a busy one, we struck out to Brighton two nights in a row for birthday meals. 

The first restaurant visit was on Friday night we went to the Thai restaurant Giggling Squid in the Lanes - It's such a great name isn't it! Thai food is particularly good as cuinsies go it's on the healthier end of the scale it's packed with colour and taste! This restaurant serves up tasty and particularly beautiful food, I think the broccoli bird says it all...

The second Restaurant was Casa Don Carlos also in the lanes, this was the destination for Saturday's frivolities. It is a Tapas restaurant and is just amazing! The food is out of this world - they love to flambé stuff just as much as I love to eat it! The best thing on the menu is chorizo flambé, we had 2 of those for our table! If you are in that neck of the woods and make it there and have room for pudding make sure you ask for a glass of '43' liqueur with it, it's just delicious! (although booking is essential if you do fancy it!)

Anyhow I wore my Ruby Rocks dress and blinged it up with some red, accessories, nails and a lick of red lippy!

I might do a make up post, if anyone's interested let me know!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend, what's your favourite restaurant?!

Mystery Fashion Object!

My mum is amazing when it comes to unusual Christmas presents, this year I received this:

'It's lovely' I exclaimed 'Erm.. but what is it Mum?' Once she explained I was very excited!

Can you guess what it is?  Here's a hint... it is pictured in the pub above -in its element!

OK I won't keep you in suspense here's the answer...

...It's a bag hook! It curls up into a little compact sized trinket and slips into your bag, then when you go to a pub with a sticky floor or you're worried that someone will swipe your prized Prada you can pop the hook next to you and dangle your handbag where you can keep a watchful eye on it! Amazing isn't it?!

As to where it came from... only father Christmas (and perhaps e-bay) has the answer!

Get the London Look!

Things have been pretty busy since Christmas, there are just one or two things afoot in life at the moment to say the least! I hadn't had much time to think about the London meet, until yesterday- I had a look at the mini-blog and now I'm quite excited. The venue looks great and the guest list is huge!

There's only one problem left to solve... what to wear?! Is anyone else struggling to decide what to wear?! What's the general feeling? Dressing up for the evening? Or going casual? So so many possibilities! So so many clothes! One thing's for sure I'm looking forward to meeting some lovely ladies! Roll on the 5th!

Ruby Rocks It's official!

There's always something you need in your wardrobe.. right? It's like a never ending battle of disintegrating bras, worn out trousers, leggings with holes, tops that get sacrificed to the goddess of dropping your dinner down yourself!?

Well I have been on a buying onslaught this year I have now acquired decent work trousers, jeans that I am happy with, some good staple tops and a full compliment of knickers thanks to M&S and me getting angry with evans ones and throwing them ALL out.

It's time to add something that I never contemplated wearing before.. a day dress/tunic or two! I started with this one then this one. both courtesy of new look, I will try and post an outfit pic. of the blue one at some point.

Now I have a new addition from Ruby Rocks (via style 369 in the sale) I ordered this dress in a 24 as I figured I could live with it being too big but not too small. Turns out it was a good choice as it is perfectly sized for me. It is very comfortable to wear and I didn't feel that I needed to add a belt as it is beautifully shaped on its own. Here are some pics taken in the lanes in Brighton (whilst we were waiting for our favourite Japanese cafe to open - E-Kagen on Sydney Street if anyone is down that neck of the woods!)

Dress @ Ruby Rocks (Via style 369) Size 24

Boots @ Evans

Black top @ ASOS (If I could I'd buy 10 more!)

Leggings - oh any old ones will do to be honest!

Watch @ Gucci (quite elderly now!) 

Glasses @ Prada (getting on a bit too!)

So in Conclusion Ruby most certainly Rocks! I will be keeping my eye on what they have to offer in the coming season!

Anyone else a fan of Ruby Rocks?

Bump-it!

Here is a review for a Christmas present I received this year they're called Bumpits - (without a hyphen slightly unfortunate name depending on how you see the world!) They are plastic hair accessories designed to give volume to your hair. In the kit you get three sizes an instruction leaflet and a comb.

Now then, I am usually quite sceptical about plastic things meant to make your hair fabulous, having tried many many things throughout my early 20's I never found anything that fulfilled its promises! Bump its are pretty good though, even with my limited hairdressing skill and equipment I managed to pull together a couple of looks that with a lick of hairspray I think would stay in...

The kit

 My hair in a pony tail normally...

 with bumpit first attempt...

 With buimpit Second attempt...

 If hair-bands are your thing or tiaras (or your'e a bit younger than nearly 30!)...

 My hair down...

 Half up with bumpits (very 60's beehive!)...

Without the pinning at the back...

All in all a great little product. I would say they are primarily for special occasions. They could be spectacular used for an up-do for a ball or a wedding. (or even very good for fancy dress) I dare say a hairdresser could work wonders with them.

Thanks mum great little prezzy!